Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-24
UNCLE ZEKE AT THE zoo.
Profound Natural Historian Explains Some
Interesting Points.
Philadelphia TiGes.

A Profound Natural Historian Explains Some
Interesting Points.
Philadelphia Tires.
Among yesterdays visitors at the zoo
was an old colOred man, who spoke with
a befo'- accent. By the group of
children who were with him he wa. called
"Uncle Zeke." It was evidently not Uncle
Zeke's first visit to the zoo, for be possess
ed familiarity with the animals which
belongs only to the student of natural
history and frequenter of the zoo.
"Dere now, children" said the old man,
pointing with his cane to the cage, Il
want to call your 'tention to dis animal
in partik'iar. He am from de jungles of
Asia. You remembah dat de bible ak dis
question. Can a leopard change his
spots?' Well, dis am de leopard and dere
am de spots, and he can no mo- change
dem spots dan a yeller man become
black"
ooh Uncle Zeke," said one Of the little
girls, who had been to sunday school,
''the bible speaks of a leper, man who
is suffering with a
Don't you contradict me, chile;
don't you contradict Uncle Zeke," inter
rupted the old man, and he pounded the
floor with his cane until all the frightened
animals began to growl.
The venerable negro had become so
excited that he sought the fresh air, and
as he assembled his little flock rear the
large row of old poplars, some of which
have recently been cut down, he gave the
children the benefit of his meditations.
"How much like man am a tree, after
alp he said, sDe tree sends down it's roots
into the groun' and abso'bs nouIshment
from de earth, just as a man gains susten-
ance from the products oh de earth. An
den the tree puts fo'th its leaves. which
take nitrogen from de atmospheric, JUS
like de lungs OF a man take oxygen: an
de sap, it go all thro' de tree, JUS like de
blood in a mans veins, and de tree, it
blossoms like de blossom on mans nose.
So de tree grows an by an by, maybe,
its cut down an used for stove wood an
becomes grass an ashes, JUS like when a
dead mans put into oleomargetory
Or, maybe, de tree falls ober dead in de
forest, where it decays an becomes part
OBJ de soil, an de air, JUS like de body OBJ
de man what's buried. But come long
children, you don't know muffin bout dem
tings." he concluded, as be led the way to
the beaver dam.
''There, children" he said as he leaned
over the fence, 'that's a beaver. You
notice, he's swimmin in de water one
minute an de berry next he am climbin'
up de bank. He's JUS like some temp'r-
ance people 1 knows of-berry fond of
water sometimes, but ready to take some
thin more solid when dey ken get it,
You see how fiat his tail am? Well. his
heads jus es level, an you wouldn't kotch
him signing a magistrates bill, not
nv Az
Poor Uncle Zeke! Before he concluded
his sentence the fence gave way, precipi-
tating him headlong into the icy waters
of the pond. The children joined in a
chorus of lament, which brought the
| guard to the assistance of their aged
| friend.
The Western Settlers Chosen Specific
| With every advance of emigration into the far
| West, a new demand is created for Hostetter,s
| Stomach Bitters. Newly peopled regions are fire.
quenty less salubrious than older settled locaIi-
! ties, on account of the miasma which rises from,
| recently cleared land, particularly along tn
banks of rivers that are sub ect IL freshetS The
agricultural or mining elnig ra learns, when
he does not airesdy know, that the BitterS afford
/ the only sure protection against malaria. ana
/ those disorders of the stomach, liver ami bowels
/ TO which climate changes, exposure, and unac
customed or unhealthy water or diet subject nm
! Consequently, he places an estimate upon this
| great household specific and preventive comme
Surate with its intrinsic merits, aud Is careful 10
| keep hand q restorative and promoter